Guide tool for fastening an inverted base

ABSTRACT

For use with an inverted base provided with upper and lower rows of projecting teeth adapted to be driven into a wall panel and floor at the base of the wall with the inverted base located in a recess inwardly of the wall surface, a transparent substantially rigid guide element of elongated form and narrow width and being substantially flat for the major portion of its length. Provided at either end of the guide element is a longitudinal end groove of inwardly tapering formation having its outer end widest at the terminal edge of the guide element and merging at its inner narrow end into the flat body of the guide element, the wall of the groove extending outwardly from the outer surface of the guide element. The flat elongated portion of the guide element provides a hammering surface for driving the teeth along a row of the inverted base into the wall panel and/or the floor with the guide element movable along the row and the teeth forwardly of the guide element coacting with the groove to guide the same along the edge of the inverted base. A handle may be affixed to the guide element to extend at an inclination either from the grooved end thereof or may be disposed transverse to the guide element at its center and extending from the upper side edge thereof. A special half-hammer is utilized for use with the guide element constituting a metal hammer head having a substantially rectangular bottom hammering surface of a width corresponding to the width of the guide element, the sides and front of the hammer head arcuately tapering upwards, with the back of the hammer head flat and normal to the bottom hammering surface. A handle is affixed to the upper end of the hammer head extending rearwardly of the back flat wall, the handle tapering towards its fixed end with its larger thickness arranged to be conveniently held in the hand.

United States Patent (72] lnventor Erich Willfurth 31 W. Chestnut St., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 [21] Appl. No. 787,510 [22] Filed Dec. 27, 1968 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [54) GUIDE TOOL FOR FASTENING AN INVERTED BASE 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 29/275, 145/1 B [51] int. Cl B25b 27/14 [50] Field of Search l45/l.2, 29, 46, 29.1; 29.2, 29.3, 29.4; 29/254, 275, 283; 227/147; 173/128, 130; 72/479 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,408 10/1953 Leslie 145/1 (.2) 3,381,730 5/1968 Omholt 145/46 Primary Examiner- Robert C. Riordon Attorney-Carl Miller ABSTRACT: For use with an inverted base provided with upper and lower rows of projecting teeth adapted to be driven into a wall panel and floor at the base of the wall with the inverted base located in a recess inwardly of the wall surface, a transparent substantially rigid guide element of elongated form and narrow width and being substantially flat for the major portion ofits length. Provided at either end of the guide element is a longitudinal end groove of inwardly tapering formation having its outer end widest at the terminal edge of the guide element and merging at its inner narrow end into the flat body of the guide element, the wall of the groove extending outwardly from the outer surface of the guide element. The flat elongated portion of the guide element provides a hammering surface for driving the teeth along a row of the inverted base into the wall panel and/or the floor with the guide element movable along the row and the teeth forwardly of the guide element coacting with the groove to guide the same along the edge of the inverted base. A handle may be affixed to the guide element to extend at an inclination either from the grooved end thereof or may be disposed transverse to the guide element at its center and extending from the upper side edge thereof. A special half-hammer is utilized for use with the guide element constituting a metal hammer head having a substantially rectangular bottom hammering surface of a width corresponding to the width of the guide element, the sides and front of the hammer head arcuately tapering upwards, with the back of the hammer head flat and normal to the bottom hammering surface. A handle is affixed to the upper end of the hammer head extending rearwardly of the back flat wall, the handle tapering towards its fixed end with its larger thickness arranged to be conveniently held in the hand.

PATENTED Am; 319?:

GUIDE TOOL FOR FASTENING AN INVERTED BASE This invention relates to a combined hammering guide element and hammer for use with an inverted base adapted to be disposed in a recess provided inwardly of the outer wall surface at the base thereof, the inverted base having upper and lower rows of teeth to be driven into a wall panel and floor respectively, the form of inverted base being shown in my copending application, Ser. No. 7l0,426, filed Feb. 12, I968,

The primary object being to facilitate driving in the rows of teeth without damage either to the inverted base or to the wall panel or floor.

Another object of this invention is to form the guide element of a suitable transparent material of elongated rectangular shape provided with an inwardly tapering groove at one end thereof projecting outwardly from the outer face of the guide element, the groove riding over a portion of the row of teeth on the inverted base while the length of guide element rearwardly of the groove providing a hammering surface receiving the impacts of the hammer head to drive the teeth into the wall panel and/or floor.

A further object of the invention relates to having the tapered groove arcuate shaped in cross section and disposed at either end of the flat elongated guide element along the medial longitudinal axis thereof.

Yet another object of this invention relates to a handle member having a connecting portion straddling the outer end portion of the groove adjacent the end of the guide element and secured thereto at its outer face by suitable fastening elements, the handle being inclined upwardly from the guide element.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an integral socket member extending laterally midway of the guide element from a selected longitudinal edge thereof and inclined with relation thereto for receiving a handle which is secured to the socket member in any desired manner.

A further object of this invention relates to a half-hammer for use with the guide element, that is formed of metal body tapering upwardly from a flat hammering bottom that is substantially rectangular in shape ofa width substantially equal to the width of the guide element and being further provided with a flat backwall normal to the flat bottom of the hammer such as to provide the mass of the hammer at the hammering bottom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the hammer head with a handle extending rearwardly from the upper end of the flat back wall of the hammer head, the handle being tapered with its smaller diameter end disposed at its point of connection to the hammer head.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the manner of using the guide element and hammer in the driving in of the row ofteeth of an inverted base, and illustrating one form of guide element.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the half-hammer.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational of the half-hammer.

FIG. 4 is a top elevational of the guide element shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a crosssectional view taken on line 6-6, FIG. 4 showing the manner of securing the handle to the guide element.

FIG. 7 shows a modified form of guide element and handle attachment.

Referring to the drawings in detail, an inverted base 10, see FIG. 1, is shown provided at its upper end with a lip 12 from the edge of which projects a row of teeth 14 adapted to be driven into a wall panel 15 to secure the inverted base thereto. As will be noted the row of teeth project at right angles to the vertical lip 12.

In order to facilitate the driving in of the row of teeth into the wall panel 15 without damage to the inverted base 10 or to the wall panel 15, there is provided a tool combination em bodying a guide element 18 and a half-hammer 201 In the form of guide element 18, shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, the same consists of a rectangular plate 22 of greater length than width and of a substantially rigid transparent material, such as plastic, fiberglass, etc., having a lateral integral extension 23 extending from the longitudinal edge 24. The extension 23 is located approximately at the transverse center of the guide element 18 and terminates at its free end in a socket 25. The extension 23 is inclined towards the plate 22 in the manner as shown in FIG. 5, and inserted into the socket 25 is one end ofa short handle 27 secured therein as by rivet 28, see FIG. 6. The transparency of the guide element 18 is important as it will enable viewing the progressive striking in of the row of teeth as well as insuring proper alignment of the guide element in its progressive movement along the lip of the inverted base 10, as will be hereinafter described.

A half-hammer 20 is used in combination with the guide element 18, see FIGSJ2 and 3, and is seen to consist of a metal block 31 forming the hammer head having a flat rectangular bottom 33, and a flat back 34 normal to the bottom 33. The sides and front of the hammer head 31 arcuately taper upwardly such as to provide a low center of gravity near the base or bottom thereof to enhance its balance and striking action. A handle 36 extends rearwardly from the top of the hammer head 31 and may be integral therewith or separate and secured thereto in any desired manner. Preferably the handle 36 is tapered with its smaller diameter end adjacent the top end of the hammer head 31, while the larger diameter end portion of the handle is of a size such as to be conveniently held in the hand for using the half-hammer 20. The bottom 33 or hammering surface is rectangular and of a width substantially equal to the width of the guide element 18 and of a length but slightly greater than the width of the bottom 33. The preferred dimensions of the guide element plate 22 is 1 inch wide and approximately I foot long. As almost all the work of the half-hammer will be in tight places the design of the half-hammer 20 required the handle 36 to be thinner and shorter than the conventional hammer handle and to be position at the upper smaller end of the hammer head 31. The edges of the arcuate tapered from and sides and flat back side are rounded and the bottom 33 provides a driving surface of maximum area. This form of half-hammer 20 may be made with a like hammer head of smaller dimensions and usable in places where a conventional form ofhammer would not be applicable.

Formed in one end portion of the plate 22 of the guide element 18, see FIGS. 1,4 and 5 is a tapered transversely arcuate groove 40 that projects above the outer surface of the plate 22 and extends from the end edge 41 of plate 22 to a point approximately midway between edge 41 and the lateral extension 23, the groove 40 being widest at the edge 41. A guide element 18 may be provided with a like groove at its other end for use in situations where a groove at the left is desired in the use ofthe guide element.

In the combined use of the guide element 18 and halfhammer 20, the teeth 14 at one end corner of the inverted base 10 are initially driven into the wall panel 15 by applying the flat bottom of the guide element 18 to the lip 12 and striking the top surface thereofwith the half-hammer 30. When ap proximately 8 inches or so of the row of teeth 14 are driven in the guide element held by one hand grasping the handle 27, is placed and/or held in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 1 with the succeeding adjacent portion of the row of teeth 14 not driven in fitted in groove 40 in guided interrelation therewith, it being seen that the flat body portion of plate 22 of the guide element 18 straddles the edge portion 12a of the lip 12 of the inverted base and the adjacent portion of the wall panel 15, in the manner as seen in FIG. ll. Thus, with a forward movement of the guide element 118, guided by the row of teeth 14 entering groove 40, and a striking of the half-hammer 20 against the flat outer side of the guide element between the other end 42 thereof and the lateral extension 23 the succeeding teeth 14 are progressively easily driven into place, accu rately and without damage to the teeth, wall panel or inverted base. When the right end portion of the inverted base is reached the remaining teeth 14 in the row may be driven in by suitable manipulation of the guide element 18 to bring the fiat side thereof against the teeth and striking the same to drive the remaining teeth into place. Or if desired a guide element such as shown in FIG. 7 to be hereinafter described, may utilized for driving in the remaining row of teeth.

The guide element 18 and half-hammer are especially effective for driving the row of teeth on the bottom lip into the floor, particularly as the same are disposed in the space or recess provided in the wall below the wall panel as shown in both of my copending applications identified hereinabove. Due to the shape of the half-hammer and the guide element 18, there will be no difficulty experienced in striking the outer surface of the guide element engaging the lower lip (inwardly of the outer wall surface) as the half-hammer will easily enter the reentrant space accommodating the inverted base in its swinging hammering action.

FIG, 7 illustrates a modified form of guide element 50 dimensioned similarly as guide element 18 with the tapered groove 40a located at the left end thereof. As with the guide element 18, the guide element 50 is formed of a transparent material such as plastic, fiber glass, etc. for the same purpose as indicated hereinabove. Straddling the outer end portion of the groove 40a and located at the end edge 51 ofthe guide element 50 is a bracket 52 having a rearwardly and inclined socket 53. The bracket 52 and integral socket 53 may be formed of the same plastic material as the rectangular plate 54 making up the guide element 50, or it may be of metal. The bracket 52 is rigidly secured to plate 54 by rivets 57, 58. If desired the bracket and its inclined socket may be molded integral with the rectangular plate 54. Fitted into the socket 53 and suitably secured thereto in any desired manner (not shown) is a handle 60. The guide element 50 is used along with the half-hammer 20 in the same manner as explained above with reference to guide element 18. it is especially useful by a left-handed person or in situations requiring the groove 40a to be at the left end of the guide element. It should be noted that this version of the guide element is especially useful at places where the length of the inverted base to be fastened is shorter than the length of the guide element by placing the far, flat end 61 of the guide element onto the lips of the teeth ofthe inverted base,

While certain novel features of my invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A guide element for driving a projecting row of teeth on a lip of a body member carrying the same into a support member to which the lip is to be secured comprising:

a. an elongated flat rigid plate presenting an outer striking surface and an inner body member engaging surface,

b. a longitudinal groove formed at one end portion of the elongated plate and extending outwardly of the outer striking surface of said elongated plate,

c. said groove tapering inwardly of said elongated plate from the terminal transverse edge of the elongated plate of said one end portion thereof to a point intermediate said transverse edge and the longitudinal center of said elongated plate,

d.ahandle secured at an an le to said elon ated plate,and e. said elongated plate emg of uni orm width and thickness, and the groove being ofa width to straddle said p.

whereby on proper straddling placement of the guiding element on the lip after a preliminary number of teeth thereof at one end of the row has been driven in place, progressive movement of the guiding element guided by the lip in the groove thereof accompanied by a striking action of a hammer on the outer striking surface of the elongated plate spaced from the groove will successively drive all the teeth into place in the support member to secure the lip in fixed position thereto.

2. The guide element ofclaim ll, wherein:

a. said tapered groove is positioned along the longitudinal medial axis ofthe elongated plate, and

b. the tapered groove having its widest end positioned at the terminal transverse edge of the elongated plate of said one end portion providing an entrance opening for said lip.

3. The guide element of claim 2, wherein:

a. said elongated plate is formed of a transparent material and is rectangular in shape,

b. a lateral extension projecting from one longitudinal edge of said elongate plate substantially midway between the ends thereof,

0. a socket at the free end of said extension and both said socket and extension being inclined downwardly towards said elongated plate, and

d. said handle extending into said socket and fixedly secured therein,

4, The guide element ofclaim 2, wherein:

a, said elongated plate is formed of a transparent material and is rectangular in shape,

b, a bracket member straddling the outer end portion ofsaid tapered groove at the terminal transverse edge of the elongated plate of said one end portion and fixedly secured to said elongated plate,

0. a socket member integral with said bracket and inclined downwardly in relation to the elongated plate, and

d. said handle extending into said socket and fixedly secured therein. 

1. A guide element for driving a projecting row of teeth on a lip of a body member carrying the same into a support member to which the lip is to be secured comprising: a. an elongated flat rigid plate presenting an outer striking surface and an inner body member engaging surface, b. a longitudinal groove formed at one end portion of the elongated plate and extending outwardly of the outer striking surface of said elongated plate, c. said groove tapering inwardly of said elongated plate from the terminal transverse edge of the elongated plate of said one end portion thereof to a point intermediate said transverse edge and the longitudinal center of said elongated plate, d. a handle secured at an angle to said elongated plate, and e. said elongated plate being of uniform width and thickness, and the groove being of a width to straddle said lip, whereby on proper straddling placement of the guiding element on the lip after a preliminary number of teeth thereof at one end of the row has been driven in place, progressive movement of the guiding element guided by the lip in the groove thereof accompanied by a striking action of a hammer on the outer striking surface of the elongated plate spaced from the groove will successively drive all the teeth into place in the support member to secure the lip in fixed position thereto.
 2. The guide element of claim 1, wherein: a. said tapered groove is positioned along the longitudinal medial axis of the elongated plate, and b. the tapered groove having its widest end positioned at the terminal transverse edge of the elongated plate of said one end portion providing an entrance opening for said lip.
 3. The guide element of claim 2, wherein: a. said elongated plate is formed of a transparent material and is rectangular in shape, b. a lateral extension projecting from one longitudinal edge of said elongate plate substantially midway between the ends thereof, c. a socket at the free end of said extension and both said socket and extension being inclined downwardly towards said elongated plate, and d. said handle extending into said socket and fixedly secured therein.
 4. The guide element of claim 2, wherein: a. said elongated plate is formed of a transparent material and is rectangular in shape, b. a bracket member straddling the outer end portion of said tapered groove at the terminal transverse edge of the elongated plate of said one end portion and fixedly secured to said elongated plate, c. a socket member integral with said bracket and inclined downwardly in relation to the elongated plate, and d. said handle extending into said socket and fixedly secured therein. 